Festivals, exhibitions, pop-ups, and seasonal happenings across all nine regions.
By month: October 2026, November 2026, December 2026, January 2027
A summer glass market in Otaru with 20 to 40 studios from across Hokkaido, handcrafted glass, hands-on experiences and an illuminated wind chime tunnel.
24–26 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOtaru · HokkaidoJapan's largest outdoor music festival, held every year at a mountain ski resort with over 200 Japanese and international artists across multiple stages.
24–26 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetYuzawa · NiigataKarasuyama's largest festival pairs a nationally designated folk performance tradition with outdoor Kabuki dance, organized in rotation by six local districts.
24–26 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNasukarasuyama · TochigiSummer Festa in Koriyama turns JR Koriyama Station into a beer garden inspired by a 1993 delegation visit to Munich's Oktoberfest, drawing 60,000 visitors.
24–26 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKoriyama · FukushimaMoka Summer Festival honors Kojin, god of fire and hearth, with over 20 mikoshi and festival floats paraded through the city over three days in summer.
24–26 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetMoka · TochigiA festival featuring massive serpent-shaped wooden floats that spew fire and smoke as they parade through Omuta City streets in July.
25–26 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOmuta · FukuokaA concert series brings virtual singers to Hamamatsu, with live band performances and exhibitions of creator artwork.
24–26 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetHamamatsu · ShizuokaA 600-year-old river festival in Tsushima, Aichi, each July: lantern-lit boats float down the Tenno River to flute music, honouring the deity Gozu Tenno.
25–26 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTsushima · AichiThis coastal festival celebrates Otaru's maritime heritage with parades, fireworks, and cultural activities honoring the harbour's role in the city's growth.
24–26 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOtaru · HokkaidoBiannual gathering for anime, gaming, and collecting communities, showcasing and selling garage kits created by independent artists and hobbyists.
26 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetChibaA month-long Kyoto festival centered on Yasaka Jinja Shrine, with sacred rituals, food stalls and illuminated floats, ending in a grand procession and parade.
1–31 Jul 2027KyotoKishu Odori Bundara-bushi, one of Wakayama's largest summer events, returns on 1 August, with thousands of dancers around Wakayama Castle.
31 Jul – 1 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetWakayamaThe Issaki Hoto Festival: six illuminated lantern towers, each 10 meters tall, carried through the streets by teams in traditional festival dress.
1 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNanao · IshikawaThis Utsunomiya summer festival brings residents together for parades, traditional performances, and displays of local culture.
1–2 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetUtsunomiya · TochigiThe Tsuyama Gongo Festival is a summer event in Tsuyama City with kappa-themed dances along Yakko-dori Street and one of Okayama's largest fireworks displays.
1–2 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTsuyama · OkayamaThe Nagano Binzuru Dance Festival draws over 10,000 participants in yukata processions through closed-off city streets in a fully participatory summer festival.
2 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNaganoThe Summer Grand Festival honours Onominato Shrine's deities with Kanazawa's largest mikoshi procession, traditional dances, and rituals from the 1600s.
30 Jul – 2 Aug 2027Kanazawa · IshikawaJapan's largest idol music festival: three days on multiple stages at a waterfront venue in Odaiba, with both established and emerging idol groups.
31 Jul – 2 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTokyo
